Acrylated Alkyds Synthesized via Quasi‐Living Radical Polymerization: ATRP and RAFT

Abstract A new method for the synthesis of autoxidatively curable acrylated alkyds is demonstrated. Acrylic block is grafted onto the backbone of the alkyd chain via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) polymerization. The acrylated ATRP copolymers are compared to RAFT copolymer and both are characterized using quantitative 1 H NMR, 13 C NMR, and 2D‐NMR spectroscopy. In particular, the autoxidative curing of ATRP polymerized acrylated alkyd is compared to the RAFT polymerized acrylated alkyds using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectroscopy. The analysis finds that the autoxidation of the RAFT acrylated alkyds is inhibited. It is postulated that the thiocarbonyl functionality hinders the autoxidative reactions. The performance of autoxidatively cured ATRP polymerized acrylated alkyd coatings is evaluated using tensile, viscoelastic, and general coating properties. Alkyd‐acrylic copolymer coatings show improved hardness, glass transition temperature, and drying time. General coating properties such as cross‐hatch adhesion, methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) resistance, and impact resistance are maintained except at higher acrylic concentrations.